Valve assembly



Dec. 12, 1950 E. c. HARTLEY VALVE ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 5, 1944 lll Dec. 12, 1950 E. c. HARTLEY 2,533,931

VALVE ASSEMBLY Filed Dec. 5, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 :El E. E 1 [23:

47 j 425 7 6 y 35 4'5 J 5 474 7 36 rings.

.is objectionable7 f invention to provide a novel form of sealing ring IPatented Dec. 12, 1950 VALVE ASSEMBLY Emmett C. Hartley, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to The Parker Appliance Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application December 5, 1944, Serial No. 566,703

Claims.

The invention relates generally to valves and primarily seeks to provide a valve structure embodying a casing having at least one inlet port and at least one outlet port, a rotor having a flow passage therethrough and turnable for permitting or preventing flow of fluid through said ports and passage, and a novel sealing ring structure and mounting means therefor carried bythe casing with the ring yieldably engaging the rotor for sealing off the ring surrounded port when the rotor is turned so as to place the flow passage thereinV out of registry with said ring surrounded port, said ring and said mounting `means being so constructed and cooperatively art found that the groove mounted rings tend to project from the grooves and become pinched between the cooperating rotor and casing parts as the now passage in the rotor is moved past said This is caused in part by frietional contact between the rotor and the sealing ring and resulting pressure of the ring against wail portions defining the mounting groove and bearing such angular relation to the direction of force application as to tend to crowd the ring out of the mounting groove and into the passing rotor ow passage. Obviously this pinching of rings It is a purpose of the present and a` novel mounting therefor effective to prevent this objectionable pinching and yet provide for a highly eflicient sealing of the port or ports. An object of the invention is to provide a novel form of sealing ring of the character stated formed of deformable resilient material such as rubber or its equivalent and molded to shape so ,that one face thereof will conform to and seal against the adjacent generally cylindrical pe- .this means minimize the likelihood of such pinching.

Another object of the invention is to provide ,a sealing ring structure of the character stated 2 and a novel mounting therefor including means for yieldably pressing the ring against the rotor.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel mounting for a sealing ring of the character stated in which the ring is supported about the whole circle of its outer edge portion in a coniform inner end extension of the port bore to be sealed by the ring and is held against said coniform wall by a ring having a coniform sealing ring engaging face bearing parallel spaced relation to opposing Wall portions of the coniform casing bore extension at points about the circle of the sealing ring and to a radial struck from the rotor center between said opposing wall portions at said points. Stated another way, the sealing ring is so formed and mounted that it constitutes a portion of a cone the apex of which is coincident with the center of the rotor cross section at the plane in which the port bore axis lies.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a sealing ring structure of the character stated which is mounted in a groove formed in a carrier ring which is in turn removably mounted in a casing port bore and composed of two sections threadably connected in a manner permitting adjustment of the length of the carrier ring and providing an annular groove in which is carried a sealing ring engageable in sealing contact with said port bore.

With the above and other objects in View that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claims, and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a central vertical cross sectional view illustrating a valve assembly embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken through the axes of the equidistantly spaced valve ports.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3 3 on Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 4 4 on Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a face view of one of the sealing rings.

Figure 6 is a detail cross section taken on the line 6 6 on Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a detail horizontal section taken on line 1 1 on Figure 5.

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view similar to Figure 4 and illustrating a slightly modied form of the invention.

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View similar to Figure 4 and illustrating another slightly modified form of the invention.

In the disclosure herein presented exemplifying the invention, the novel features are shown as incorporated in a valve in which the casing has three inlet or delivery ports arranged in a common horizontal plane andv a' single downwardly directed inlet or outlet port, and the rotor has an elbow flow passage turnable into registry with a selected one of the group of three ports for bringing about flow communication between the selected one of the three ports and the downwardly directed port, or the rotor can be turned to close off communication with all three of the' horizontally disposed ports. It is to be understood that the invention can be applied as well to various other forms of valve structures.

In the form of the invention herein disclosed, the valve structure includes a casing 5 having three radially disposed bores all arranged in a common horizontal plane.' 'Each of the bores open into a large cylindriform rotor bore l, and each end of the rotor bore is chamfered as at 8 to provide a seat fora sealing ring 9. ing ring at the bottom 4of the valve surrounds a boss le extending from aclosure cap l which is screw secured'as at l2 to said casing and which holds the ring in tight sealing contactv with its seat. TheV ca p Il is equipped with a central inlet or discharge port IS.

lThe sealing ring Aor gasket fi at the top of the valve surrounds a Yboss le extending from a closure cap l5 ywhichis screw secured to the casing, and the vboss :I ,like the previously mentioned cap boss 'l il, extends'into therespective end of the rotor bore fl.

A vvalve rotor l1 Vis freely rotatably mounted in the rotor bore `land is equipped with bearing hubs I8 at therespective 'ends'thereof which are rotatably received'lin non-metallic bearing rings i9 mounted in the casing in a manner clearly illustrated in Figure 2. The rotor includes a reduced diameter Istein extension 2i) which passes through a center boreiil inthe cap i5 wherein it is surrounded by a packing ring 22 disposed between the stem shoulder' 23 and an `abutment ring 2li surrounding the same in spaced relation to said shoulder.

The cap i5 also has a counterbore within which is received the collar 25 which is pin secured as at Zupon the end of the rotor stem whichextendsoutfolf theA casing, The cap l5 also is equipped witha raised rib r2li having a longitudinal bore v2litherethrough in each end of which is threadably'mounted anV abutment ,Screw 2@ and a .Spring Pressed ball 0r datent, 30- Eacii'ball ordeient, .3G is engaselle .in a recess 3l formed in the external surface of the collar .Zafon-r such recesses being provided in equidistantly spaced relation. The spring pressed elements tipi, serve to yieldably hold the rotor in Selected position-S, .Or Stations each disposed in SGF spaced relation about the rotor center.

The rotor il is provided with an elbow iiow passage .32 whishwlsieiltlr ,communicates with the casing bottom port i3 at one end and has its other `end. presented for selective communication with the several casing 9017i bores 5. The yieldable detent and recess equipments S5123! will yieldably retain theV rotor in the off position in which its lflow passage 32' will be out of cornmunication with allof the'casing ports asin Figures l and 2, orlit will be yieldably held in 4 position for registering with any selected one of the casing ports.

Into the outer end of each casing bore 6 is fitted the positioning boss 33 of a port adaptor which is screw secured to the casing.

At its inner end each port bore 6 includes a coniform extension 35 which opens into the rotor bore 1. Mounted ini-the'fconiform extension 35 of leach port bore 6 1is a sealing ring'generally lo designated 3S such as is disclosed in detail in Figures 5, 6 and 7 of the drawings. Each said ring is formed of rubber or an equivalent deformable resilient material and is molded to the shape illustrated in saidv figures. Each ring includes an outer facer31 adapted to be disposed perpendicuiarly with respect to the axis of the port bore in which it isI mounted, and an inner face 38 which conforms to the peripheral curvature of the rotor. The peculiar shaping ofthe sealing rings illustrated in Figures 5, 6 and '7 provides portions 38 of relatively large mass at each side of the ring in the plane of rotation of the rotor, or in other Words at the portions of thef ring most likely to be pinched between the rotor and the casing, and by this, means the likelihood of pinching of the sealing rings ig minimized. Each said large mass portion 39 .of the 'ring includes parallel Wall portions lii and rounded ends di, and these relatively large mass portions of the ring merge into ring portions d2 which are approximately round in cross section at the intermediate quarters of the ring. It will be apparent by reference to Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings that the parallel `face portions .llc of each ringwhen properly mounted are centered at opposite sides of a radial Rstr-uk from the rotor center; In other words, each sealing ring is so formedl and mounted that'it constitutes a portion of a cone th apex of which is co-incident with the center ofV the rotor cross section at the plane in which the port bore axis lies.

Each sealing ring Se is held in place by a follower ring @-3 having la coniform sealing ring engaging Surfac'eli, `an outwardly extended back- -i ing flange d5 and inner, bore defining surface itt. A wavy Vwasher il is interposed between the outer end of reach follower ring d3 and the adjacent face of the port adaptor'boss 33, and the washer serves to constantly and yieldablyV press the respective'follower Iringvil3 and sealingring 3S against the peripheral surface ofthe rotor l1.

In the forni offthe invention illustrated in Figures 1 through 'fthe coniforrn port bore extensions d serve to retainthe sealing rings and minimize the possibilityoi the rings becoming wedged and pino d .between the rotor and the casing when the IOOlT isr turned in the counterclockwise direction as Viewed in Figure 3, and the coniform surface on the foilower rings 43 and the engagement ofi-said rings witnthe roto'r serve to retain the vsealing rings l33 and prevent pinching thereof between the roterV VI 'l and said follower rings when the rotor i s turned in the clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 3. The molding of the ring to the exact shape illustrated in said figures assures that v:an eiiicient seal will be provided by the rings with a minimum of distortion of the ring "shape in the.` provision of said seal. Uniform'dimensional distortion about' the full circle of eachv sealing ring lessens the pressure of Contact where the relatively large rubber mass 39 is provided 'several times the'pressure Contact at-thesmallest cross section indicated at 42. It will be obvious that it is muche'asier to deiorm relatively large mass portions' of the ISL assaggi sealing* rings,` Vand thus with `a `lower1 pressure c'ontactand a large mass `of the deformable sealing material disposed inothe plane of rotation of the Vrotor where pinching of the sealing ring between the rotor and the casing or theV follower ring is most likely to take place, the likelihood of such pinching is reduced to a minimum. `It will be obvious also that each sealing ring generally designated 36 serves the dual function of effecting a. seal against `the peripheral surface of the rotor l1 and also between the follower ring 43 and the casing.

In the modified form of the invention illustrated in Figure 8 the sealing ring is mounted i in a 'cylindrical bore 48. The sealing ring structure is broadly the same as is disclosed in Figures 5, 6 and 7 with respect to the provision of large masses of rubber in the plane of rotation of the rotor but in this form of the ring, the ring, generally designated 49, liegflat against the outer wall of the bore 118v and against the outer face of a'sleeve 50, theY inner end of which `is Ashaped to conform to and engage the peripheral surface of the rotor as at 5l.: The ring or sleeve 5| includes an outwardly turned follower flange 52 which engages the outer face of the ring 49 and which is in turn engaged bya yieldable washer 53 which' extends into a'counterbore formed in the casing and which Vis adapted to receive the boss 54 of the respective port adaptor. The washer 53 yieldably urges the inner face of the sealing ring is and the inner edge portion 5l of the mounting ring 5G into sealing contact with the periphery of the rotor.

In Figure 9 of the drawings there is illustrated still another modified form of the invention in which the sealing ring generally designated 55 is constructed in the same manner as in Figure 8 and is mounted in an annular groove '5t formed in the inner face of a carrier ring 51. The carrier ring 51 is mounted in a cylindrical port bore 58 formed in the casing and engages the periphery of the rotor as lat '59 and 6G at opposite sides of the `annular groove in which the sealing ring 55 is mounted. The carrier ring 51 includes a threadably mounted section or ring portion El which abuts the boss 62 of the respective port adaptor. The provision of the relatively adjustable ring sections 51 and 6l maires. it possible to vary the length of the carrier ring as a whole, r

and by reason of the spacing of the ring portions in the manner illustrated in Figure 9, there is provided an annular groove E3 in which a sealing ring Se is mounted in position for engaging in sealing contact between the base of the groove and the port bore 58. By adjustment of the length of the carrier ring, the desired pressure of the carrier ring and sealing ring against the rotor can be maintained.

It will be noted that in all three forms of the invention herein disclosed the feature of providing a relatively large mass of rubber or yieldable sealing material at each side of the ring in the plane of rotation of the rotor is embodied.

While several examples of embodiment of the invention are disclosed herein, it is to be understood that other variations in the novel structures herein disclosed may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a valve assembly, a casing having a rotor bore and at least one port bore leading thereinto, a rotor rotatably mounted in the rotor bore and having a flow passage therein and turnable for 6 permitting or preventing flowfof iiuid through said port bore and passage, said port bore having a cylindricalouter portion and aconiform inner end extension opening into the rotor bore, a sealing ring of rubber or equivalent yieldable and resilient material formed to present an outer face perpendicular to the axis of the port bore and an inner face curved toconform to and engage in sealingcontact with the periphery of thero-tor and with Said coniiorm bore extension thereby to present a relatively large mass of the yieldable ring material at each-side of the ring centered in the plane intersecting the axis of said port in the direction of .rotation of the rot-or and a relatively Asmall mass of said material at the other two sides of said ring, said sealing ring inner. face also being curved away from the rotor periphery in both directions `from an annular contact line so as to normally-engage the rotor periphery at said contact line only and befree to move slightly with the rotor in either direction oi rotation, and a port dening sealing ring backing ringl engaging and holding the sealing' ring in the port bore and shaped to format least part of an annular groove for receiving said ring and 'to present annulus within said sealing ring Vin position for constantly contacting the peripheral surface of `the rotor and limiting the extent towhich the sealing ring is deformed againstthe rotor periplflery.4 y

2. In a valve assembly,` a 'casing having 'a rotor bore and at least one port bore leading thereinto, a rotor rotatably mounted in the rotor bore and having 'a flow passage therein and turnable for permitting or preventing ow of iiuid through said port bore and passage, said port bore having a cylindrical outer portion and a coniform inner end extension opening into the rotor bore, a sealing ring of rubber or equivalent yieldable and resilient material formed to present an outer face perpendicular to the axis of the port bore and an inner face curved to conform to and engage in sealing Contact with the periphery of the rotor and with said coniform bore extension thereby to present a relatively large mass of the yieldable ring material at each side of the ring centered in the plane intersecting the axis of said port in the direction of rotation of the rotor and a relatively small mass of said material at the other two sides of said ring, said sealing ring inner face also being curved away from the rotor periphery in both directions from an. annular contact line so as to normally engage the rotor perpihery at said contact line only and be free to move slightly with the rotor in either direction of rotation, and a port defining sealing ring backing ring engaging and holding the sealing ring in the port bore and shaped to form at le-ast part of an annular groove for receiving said ring and to present an annulus within said sealing ring in position for constantly contacting the peripheral surface of the rotor and limiting the extent to which the sealing ring is deformed against the rotor periphery and means constantly urging the backing ring and the sealing ring against the rotor.

3. A valve assembly as defined in claim 1 in which the backing ring includes a coniform sealing ring engaging face bearing parallel spaced re lation to opposing wall portions of the coniform casing bore extension at points about the circle of the sealing ring and to a radial struck from the rotor center between said opposing wall portions at said points.

4. A valve assembly as defined in claim 1 in which the sealing ring is so formed and mounted thatgit-'f constitutes@J` ring :sectioneof va cone fthe apex nffWhichis coincidentwith thecenterfof. the IQtor crosssection at the. plane in `which thepo1t bore axislies. e y

Y( 5. Ina Valve assembly, -aycasing havinga rotor bore and-atleast one portgbore :leading-thereinto, a rotor rotatably mounted inthe rotor,y bore and havinga .110W passage thereinA and ,turnable for permitting or preventing .flow of ,-uid i throughV said port 'bore and `passagasaid porto bore having @cylindrical outer portionanda coniforminner end extension opening into the rotor .bore,.a sealing .ring of.rubber or equivalent yieldablez and resilient material forrnedltov present anouter .face perpendicular *to the axis of the port bore zand an inner face curved to conform to and engage inzsealing contact with the periphery of the rotor and :Withvsaid ooniformy bore extension, ,thereby to (present a relatively large mass ofthe yieldable ring material at eachlside of-the `ringeenterecl in the plane intersectingv the. axis of said port in the dir eotionof rotation of the rotor and a relatively small mass of said material atlthe other two sides of-said ring,. said sealing ring inner face alsobeingy 4curved away from. the rotor vperiphery in both directions from anannular contact line so asto normally engage the .rotor periphery at said contact-1ine-only yand, 4kie-free to move slightly with the rotor, in either directionof rotation; a port dening. sealing ringbackingring engaging anddieldng fthe sealing :ring inthe port boreand sha-perito format,v least par-,tg ofan annular groove fQr'sreQeivfing :said ring and including aconiform sealinglring engagingface :bearing parallel spaced s r, relationftolopposingyvall portions of the eoniform casingeboreextension Yat points about-the circle of theirsealingringgand to airadial struckirom thefrotor; center :between ysaid opposing Wall portion-.atasaid points, ,and meansconstantly urging lo othefbackingxingand ythe sealing ring toward the roton- EMMETT 1C. HARTLEY.

REFERENCES CITED 5- Theaiollowing references are of record in the file .rof this partent? UNITED STATES PATENTS N umher Number- 

